Antirattle device for steering devices



Patented May 30; 1922.

INVENTOR. Jbh'h' 12 Lowe.

' I I ATTORNEYS? I 1. D. LOWE. ANTIRATTLE DEVICE FOR STEERING DEVICES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-12, 1-921.

JOHN D. LOWE, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO LA FAYETTE MoronsCOMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, a CORPORATION.

ANTIRA TILE DEVICE FOR STEERING DEVICES:

mimosa.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Bitty 30, 1922.

Application filed August 12, 1921. Serial No. 491,321.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN D. LOWE, a subj ectof the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Indianapolis, county ofMarion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulAntirattle .Devices for Steering Devices; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion thereof,reference being had to the ac companying drawings, in which likenumerals refer to like parts. I

This invention relates to a steering column and the actuating tubescontained therein for use in connection with the operation and controlof motor vehicles.

The main object of the invention is to provide means for preventingrattling and eliminating vibration between the tubes contained in thesteering column, wherein there are three thin metal tubes contained inthe steering column for controlling the spark and throttle andsupporting the segment arm. These tubes are mounted in telescopicrelation, each very slightly spaced apart so that vibration or jarringof the steering mechanism may cause them to rattle and become noisy.Such rattling is prevented by piercing the tubes to form a plurality oftangs having a slight spring, which are adapted to bear against theadjacent tube or shaft for yieldingly spacing it from the surroundingtube. f

The full nature of this invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a steering column showingthe actuating tubes in position therein. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectionthrough a portion of the tubes.

' 'Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of one of the tubes showing a tang pierced therein.

In the drawings there is shown a steering column for motor vehicleshaving an outer casing tube 10 and an inner steering tube 11, said tube11 being keyed to the steering wheel 12 through the spiders 13. Thesteering tube 11 is keyed to the worm 14 which actuates the steeringsegment 15 enclosed within the housing 16 in the usual manner. Mountedwithin the steering tube 11 and adjacent thereto, there is a supportingtube 17 for the segment arm 18 which extends through the steering tube11 and is secured at the bottom of the column 10 by the reduced portion19.

Mounted within the supporting'tube 17 there 18 a throttlecontrollingtube 20 secured to the throttle lever 21 at the upper endthereof and to the throttle controlling pinion 22 at the lower end.Contained within thetube 20 and extending therethrough there is a sparkcontrolling tube 23 which is secured at the upper end to the spark lever24 and at the lower end to the spark actuating pinion 25.

As shown in the drawings the tubes 17 20 and 23 are slightly spacedapart, and maintained 1n spaced relation with respect to each other bypiercing the tubes to form tangs adapted to resiliently engage theadacent tube. The tube 17 is provided with inwardly extending tangs 26and outwardly extending tangs 27 which are punched from the metal in theusual and well known man ner. The tangs 26 extend inwardly andresiliently engage the outer surface of the tube 20, a nd the tangs 27projectoutwardly and resil ently engage the inner surface of thesteering tube 23 for spacing the tube 17 therefrom. By means of thetangs 26, the tube 20 is spaced from the tube 17, and by means ofthetangs28 the tube 23 is spaced from the tube 20. It will, therefore,be seen that each of the tubes contained in the steering column areresiliently spaced from each other and maintained inspaced relationunder spring tension so that no vibration or rattling will be set upbetween them. \Vherein a rod may be employed in the center of the columnin place of the tube 23, the same-arrangement of engaging andspacingtangs may be employed inasmuch as no tangs are provided on the centraltube and would therefore not be necessary on the central rod. A centralrod'may therefore be employed in place of the central tube as anequivalent therefor.

The invention claimed is:

1. A steering column for vehicles having a plurality of telescopingtubes contained therein, and means positioned between the adjacentsurfaces of said tubes for preventing the engagement thereof wherebythere will be no rattling or vibration set up. therein. I

2. A steering column for vehicles having a plurality of actuating tubescontained therein, and a plurality of resilient members positionedbetween the adjacent surfaces of said tubes for preventing theengagement thereof, whereby therewill be no rattling or vibration set uptherein.

3. A steering column for vehicles having a plurality of actuating tubescontained therein, and a plurality of tangs formed in the Wallsthereofand projecting laterally therefrom into resilient engagement Withthe Wall of the adjacent tube for maintain- 10 ing said tube in spacedrelation, whereby there Will be no rattling or vibration set up therein.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOHN D. LOWE.

